Sony Announces new NEX-5R with Hybrid AF System and Suite of PlayMemories Camera and Mobile Apps

Sony has just announced the new NEX-5R
mirrorless interchangeable lens camera to enhance their existing NEX Camera
Lineup. The new Sony NEX-5R uses a newly developed 16.1 Megapixel
HD CMOS EXMOR Sensor that contains a lot of new technology. Not
only can the new Sony take Still Photos, but it can record high
quality video in a variety of modes, including 1080p super-smooth
60p, standard 60i or cinematic 24p, all at Full HD 1920×1080
resolution.

This new model contains a host of new
features, including a new Hybrid Autofocus System that uses 99
phase-detection AF points arrayed on the image sensor to detect a
subject's distance and quickly lock focus on it, and then uses
contrast-detection AF to confirm extremely fine, precise details.

The new Hybrid AF design allows users
to track rapidly moving subjects via Phase Detect AF, as you would
normally find in a dSLR model versus a Mirrorless Compact Camera. Sony is not the only one to integrate the Phase Detect AF Sensors into the main
Imaging Sensor, so that no separate AF Sensor is needed to provide
faster Focus. This is similar to the Hybrid AF technology we saw
introduced in Nikon's 1 Series cameras, like the recently announced
J2, which has 73 AF points on the main imaging sensor used for Phase
Detect AF.

In Speed Priority Continuous Shooting
Mode, the Sony NEX-5R switches to Phase Detect AF Tracking
automatically using it's 99 AF points to maintain accurate focus on
a subject while taking photos at up to 10 frames per second. That's
the kind of performance you normally see from a high end Professional
Grade dSLR, not from a smaller Compact Camera model like the NEX-5R.
The evolution of technology we're seeing in newer cameras like this
is amazing.

The new Sony 5R also includes WiFi, a
feature we're beginning to see in more newer cameras now, along with
a touch screen interface built into the tilting LCD. If you have a Smart Phone or Tablet running iOS or Android, you'll be pleased to
know that you can upload photos to your Mobile Device directly from
the 5R. In addition, content can be directly uploaded to FaceBook.

Thanks to Sony's new PlayMemories
Mobile App for Android and iOS, you can also remote control the
NEX-5R using your mobile device, and even send content from the Phone
to DLNA enabled TVs and devices like some of the Sony Bravia TV
Models. The advances in technology making it easy to share
content between multiple devices is a welcome addition to digital
cameras like this new Sony.

Sony has also announced a new
PlayMemories Camera and Mobile app suite that will be available for the NEX-5R and future models. This
new app will let users download new applications to the camera. For
example, at launch, camera owners can download apps for Picture
Effect+; Bracket Pro, Multi Frame NR, Photo Retouch, and Smart
Remote Control (the application that lets you control your camera
from a smart phone or tablet running iOS or Android). A variety of other
apps including Time-Lapse and Cinematic Photo are also planned for
release soon.

As part of this product launch, Sony
has also announced a content sharing service called PlayMemories
Online. That way, users of the NEX-5R can upload photos and videos
directly to a Cloud based storage offering for sharing of content
with others. The Content stored in PlayMemories Online will also be
viewable on newer Sony Bravia Series TVs,

On top of this, Sony announced a new
PlayMemories Studio, that includes features that let you view videos
and photos on a PlayStation3, as well as the ability to output images
to Sony's 4K Televisions like the new Sony Bravia XBR084x900 4K LED
TV PlayMemories Studio also lets you upload content to YouTube and
PlayMemories Online.

We are pleased at the direction we see
Sony moving toward with its new Sony NEX-5R and PlayMemories
service offerings, and can't wait to get our hands on one for testing.